WARRIORS FALL BEHIND IN SECOND HALF TO CORNERSTONE

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Warriors couldn't overcome the Cornerstone Golden Eagles' impressive offensive performance on Wednesday night in Mol Arena, falling 74-57. The three-point line was the difference maker in the matchup, with the Golden Eagles shooting 15-30 from the stripe while RCU shot 4-24. Leading the Warriors in scoring was guard Samone Andrews, who had 15 off the bench. The Golden Eagles' scoring tandem of Olivia Kubik and Jaxi Long scored 54 of the home team's points. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

The Warriors jumped out to a 5-2 lead behind scores from Jacey Somers and Ashley Loon, but the Golden Eagles' Long exploded for three consecutive threes on three possessions to give Cornerstone an 11-5 lead. The Golden Eagles ended the run with a layup before forward Emiley Lockey hit two jumpshots to cut the deficit to four. Another three by Cornerstone put the hosts up seven, but a big putback by Mylah Aalse, four points from Andrews, and a buzzer-beating layup by guard Karmyn Lowry brought the quarter to a 19-17 end in favor of CU. 

The teams traded free throws to start the second quarter, but the Golden Eagles built some separation thanks to a three by Kubik. Andrews hit an important three for the Warriors shortly after to cut the Cornerstone lead to four, but Long continued her phenomenal day from behind the arc, hitting her fourth three of the game to put Cornerstone up seven. Andrews found the net on a midrange pullup shortly after, but the Golden Eagles continued to stay ahead. With two minutes remaining, Lowry hit a three to get the Warriors within two possessions, but Kubik hit a three to put the Golden Eagles up seven at half. 

SECOND HALF

Kubik continued where she left off with a three, setting up a 7-0 run for Cornerstone to begin the second half. The Warriors broke the ice with two layups by Moore , but Kubik hit another three to halt the Warriors' momentum. Center Tambre Williams hit a layup for the Warriors midway through the quarter, assisted by Andrews, but as was for the majority of the game, Long hit a big three to respond to RCU. However, the Warriors started to find their stride on both ends of the floor, with Aalse scoring a layup and Andrews hitting a three on a kick-out by Moore to bring RCU within seven. 

Long and Cornerstone kept up the offense, with the guard hitting another three to put CU up 12. The Warriors earned free throws at the end of the quarter to enter the fourth quarter down ten. The teams traded points to begin the fourth quarter, with Andrews and Lowry making important plays to keep Cornerstone from growing the lead. However, more threes by the Golden Eagles put this one out of reach in the final three minutes. 

STAT OF THE GAME

The Warriors' bench duo of Lowry and Andrews combined for 26 points, the most by a Warrior bench duo this season. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors will return home to host the Lourdes Gray Wolves on Nov. 26 at 5:30 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image Courtesy of Rio Grande Athletics